Randomized trial evaluates gut microbiota and butyrate changes after symbiotic treatment in rats with spinal cord injury, suggesting therapeutic potential.
Key Points
This study aims to explore how spinal cord injury affects gut microbiota and the effects of symbiotic supplementation.
Twenty female Sprague Dawley rats were randomized into five groups based on spinal cord injury level and severity.
Fecal samples were analyzed for microbial composition using 16S rRNA sequencing.
Butyrate levels were measured by gas chromatography and locomotor recovery was assessed weekly using the BBB scale.
All SCI groups showed significant dysbiosis with decreased butyrate-producing genera compared to Sham.
T9M group had the best recovery in butyrate-producing taxa while T9S showed a significant increase in butyrate levels.
Motor recovery was highest in T9M, followed by T9S, with no significant improvement in T5S.